Lakers linked to $87 million ex-Knicks fan favorite center, NBA champion
Lakers linked to $87 million ex-Knicks fan favorite center, NBA champion originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Can the Los Angeles Lakers win a championship with their current roster?
Most, if not all, of the Lakers’ fan base/journalists would answer that question with a resounding no. If the Lakers want to alter the narrative around their ceiling in the Western Conference, they must identify targets who would mesh well with the organization’s pick-and-roll, drive-and-kick-heavy offense.
Lakers legend James Worthy is under the impression that signing a former New York Knicks fan-favorite center and NBA champion would pay dividends for Los Angeles.
“I think they (Lakers) definitely need to make some changes,” Worthy said on the Dan Patrick Show Wednesday. “I don’t think you could run it back with the same Western Conference teams that are gonna get stronger. Minnesota is gonna get stronger.”
“I think one of the things that was lacking was in the center position,” Worthy said. “I think Ayton is a great player, but I don’t know if, consistently. What we need or what a team needs is an (Isaiah) Hartenstein like Oklahoma (City Thunder), not necessarily a star, but you need a bruiser, you need somebody that’s consistent. I think the Lakers will be looking at that area.”
It only took Hartenstein four playoff games to show the Lakers why he would be a better frontcourt option for the franchise than Deandre Ayton. The 28-year-old outworked Ayton on the rebounding front, was far more effective in ball screen scenarios, and displayed more effort/want as an interior defender in the Thunder’s 4-0 second-round series win vs. the Lakers.
Hartenstein contributed 8.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game to help Oklahoma City advance to the Western Conference Semifinals.
The Eugene, Oregon, product is a superstar center by any means. Still, if Oklahoma City declines his $28 million team option for the 2026-27 season, the Lakers should be interested in adding him to the fold in the offseason.
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